Tester for high frequency oscillating current



March 13, 193.4. G G SOMERS 1,951,218

TESTER FOR HIGH FREQUENCY OSCILLATING CURRENT Filed May 16, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 5 A 0/776V'd' March 13, 1934. a G, S MER1,951,218

TESTER FOR HIGH FREQUENCY OSCILLATING CURRENT Filed May 16, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patent ed Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETESTER FOR HIGH FREQUENCY OSCILLATING CURRENT 3 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in electricaltesting, and more particularly to a novel hand tester for use in testingthe high frequency oscillation set up by spark jumping gaps of sparkplugs, and in this way determining spark plug efiiciency.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a simple, andinexpensive device for readily testing high frequency circuits todetermine their condition without inconvenience to the person performingthis work.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the instrument.

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the shell ofthe instrument.

Figure 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view entirely through thedevice.

Figure 4 represents a front end elevational view of the instrument.

Figure 5 represents a cross sectional view through the device.

Figure 6 represents a perspective view of the metallic shield.

Figure 7 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the electrodeunit.

Figure 8 represents a perspective view of one of the neon tubes.

Figure 9 represents a perspective view of the spacer.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral 5 represents a cylindrical di-electric shellclosed at one end, as at 6, and provided with an inwardly extending core7 of the same material in spaced relation with respect to its shellportion 5 and terminating inwardly of its open end. Numeral 8 representsa metallic shield to reduce body capacity which is inserted between theshell 5 and the core 7 so as to snugly fit against the inner side of theshell 5. This shield 8 has a closed end 9 which abuts the free end ofthe core 7 and a di-electric plug 10 closes this end of the shell 5 andabuts the closed end 9 of the shield 8, maintaining the di-electricspacer 11 in the bore 12 of the core 7 against the adjacent neon tube 13so as to maintain these neon tubes 13 in stable position against anytendency to shift or jar.

Numeral 14 represents a metallic socket in the closed end 6 of the shell5 for receiving the metallic jacket 15 on the electrode unit generallyreferred to by numeral 16, which further includes the di-electric body17 around which the jacket 15 is disposed and the electrode rod. 18which extends longitudinally through the body 17, connecting at one endto the jacket 15 and projecting at its opposite end a substantialdistance away from the adjacent end of the body 17 to terminate in acurved portion 19.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the jacket 15 engages against the metallicsocket 14 and of course, one of the end neon tubes 13 in the bore 12engages at one end against the socket 14. The neon tubes are preferablyinsulated or slightly spaced apart in some suitable manner, so that thehigh frequency current will jump from one to the other, and thebrilliancy of these tubes and the number energized will determine thestrength of the current, this illumination being visible through theopenings 20 which extend not only through the shell 5, but also throughthe shield 8 and through the core 7 to meet the bore 12, there being oneof these openings for each of the neon tubes employed.

The purpose of the metallic shield 8 is to reduce body capacity, and toregulate the flow of current through the lamps, by varying capacity ofthe shield itself.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An instrument of the character described comprising a hollow body ofinsulating material, a contact at one end of the body, a tubularstructure projecting in the body from the last mentioned end of thesame, and a gaseous element tube in the said tubular structure engagedwith the said contact.

2. An instrument of the character described comprising a hollow body ofinsulating material, a contact at one end of the body, a tubularstructure projecting in the body from the last mentioned end of thesame, a gaseous element tube in the said tubular structure engaged withthe said contact, and a body capacity reducing shield interposed betweenthe said tubular structure and the side of the said body.

3. An instrument of the character described comprising a hollow body ofinsulating material, a contact at one end of the body, a tubularstructure projecting in the body from the last mentioned end of thesame, and a plurality of gaseous element tubes in the said tubularstructure connected in series and with the said contact.

GRAHAM G. SOMERS.

